Key University Documents
The key documentation of the University provides information on the governance and management of the University and the key policies and procedures which underpin decision making of the University. This page provides a brief description of the key University documents and links to them.
University of Canberra Act 1989 (ACT)
The University of Canberra Act 1989 (ACT) is legislated by the ACT Legislative Assembly. The Act sets out the functions and powers of the University, and parameters for its management and activities. The Act is available on the ACT Legislation Register. The ACT Legislative Assembly is responsible for reviewing and amending the Act. The University Council may, however, liaise with the ACT Executive if it wishes to propose amendments to the Act.
Strategic Plan
The direction and priorities of the University over a given period are encompassed in a Strategic Plan. The current Strategic Plan 2008 – 2012 was adopted by the Council on 7 December 2007. The Plan was revised and updated at the Council meeting on 11 February 2011 to reflect major developments to that date and new directions and initiatives, especially in relation to the UCforLife program.
The Strategic Plan is supported by subordinate plans. The Academic Plan, seven topic-based Capability Plans and individual Operational Plans, which are developed for each faculty, research institute and business unit, are available through the Quality web site on UC Online. (These subordinate plans are available only to UC staff and are password protected) The hierarchical relationship between the four levels of plan is described in the Strategic Plan and on the Quality site.
Reconciliation Action Plan
The Reconciliation Action Plan 2010-2015 documents the University’s objectives and plans to promote reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and initiatives of the University to support access to University courses by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Campus Master Plan
The Campus Master Plan is the plan for the development of the campus (buildings, land use, transport network) and is one of the key plans underpinning the delivery of the objectives of the Strategic Plan.
Disability Action Plan
The Disability Action Plan 2010-2012 documents the services, programs and initiatives of the University to support members of the University community with a disability.
Annual Reports
Under section 36 of the University of Canberra Act 1989, the University is required to submit to the relevant Minister, for presentation to the ACT Legislative Assembly, an annual report on the operations of the University. The University issues an annual report for each calendar year. The annual report includes the financial statement for the year. The report for each year is not publicly available until it has been tabled in the Assembly, usually in the April following the year of report. The annual reports of the University are available through the University’s web site, UC Online.
Statutes and Rules
The University of Canberra Act 1989 establishes the broad parameters for the governance and management of the University. The primary instruments utilised to implement the Act are statutes, rules and policies. Sections 40, 41 and 42 of the Act define the powers of the University to make statutes and rules to give effect to the Act. The text of current University statutes and rules is available on the University Legislation Database on UC Online.
All statutes and rules are approved by Council but do not come into effect until the statute is Notified by the ACT Government. Rules must be made under a parent statute but not all statutes have rules made under them.
In 2006 Council endorsed a recommendation from the Legislation Committee that policies be the preferred instrument instead of statutes and rules (Recommendation C110/13 – 6 December 2006). Statutes and rules are used primarily when a penalty is applied, for example the Student Conduct Rules, or when the Act requires that an authority be embodied in a statute.
Policies and procedures
Together with the statutes and rules of the University the major documents which underpin the governance and management of the University on an ongoing basis are the suite of policies and procedures. University policies derive their ultimate authority from the Council’s power under section 10 of the University of Canberra Act 1989 (ACT) to undertake all that is necessary for the good governance and management of the University. Policies and procedures help give effect to the University’s mission and values, contribute to quality assurance and improve the management of risk. They establish the University’s approach to the full range of University activity, including academic matters, management and administration, personnel, financial management and physical infrastructure.
Policies and procedures are included in the University’s Policy Database on UC Online. The development of policies is guided by the Policy Framework Manual.